Cheika could enthuse about the broad-shouldered 20-year-old being anything but shy in his Test debut against the vaunted Springboks and another fine display from midfield standout Kurtley Beale who was named man of the match.

In too many other areas, Cheika saw concentration flaws turn into decisive moments that allowed the South Africans to wrestle back a 20-10 deficit for a 23-all draw.

Kurtley Beale was the Wallabies stand-out against the Springboks.Source:AFP

“Kurtley has been unbelievable since he’s been back (from a hamstring injury)...he’s killed it, carved it up, and he’s bitterly disappointed in that dressing room,” Cheika said.

“We all need that same attitude of wanting it a lot and staying at it.”

Cheika said the South Africans got too much free rein with surging runs around the ruck while the scrum and lineout work was too variable in quality.

“They came through the middle of the ruck...you can get caught there once but not three or four times,” Cheika said.

“Having some very good ones and some very poor ones hurt us in the scrums and lineouts and we paid the penalty for it at different times.

Wallabies press conference12:55

“He’s a talent. I know one lineout throw went sideways but he threw a good one 5m out, had a run, had a good first scrum and got into it.

“He hasn’t started a game of Super Rugby and he’s come in for 20 minutes of international footy.”

Springboks coach Allister Coetzee expressed his disappointment with the result.

“We’re really not happ. I don’t think any Springboks side is ever happy with a draw.”

“To come back from 20-10 down showed character and I am happy with that as well as the way we adapted to the conditions in the second half with kicks in behind and pressuring with our chase line,” Coetzee said.

Springbok press conference12:37

Rugby: Listen in to the South African Springbok post match press conference.